|
Why Custom Framing?
|
New - Low cost photo framing by mail. Click here for the latest information.
 Why Custom Framing?
There are several reasons a person will go to a custom picture framer. One might be the multitude of choices offered in frames, mats, glass, and designs. Frames and mats in department stores are assembly line production items that might not fit symmetrically around an image or an object. Mass made frames come in standard sized as 5 x 7", 8 x 10", 11 x 14", 14 x 18", 16 x 20", 20 x 24", 24 x 30". If you have a photo which is a standard 8 x 10" the standard frame for it is the 8 x 10". But there are times when you want a mat with a border around the photo or picture and the next size for a frame is 11 x 14". This means the mat borders around the 8 x 10" would have to be 2" on two sides and 1 1/2" on the other two sides. Uneven. One of the biggest reasons people go to a custom framer is because they have a photo or a picture that is a hard size to put inside a standard frame. Custom picture framers can make a frame and matting fit to any dimension. This is one reason we call it custom framing.
  Next to the problems of size are the problems of matching or blending colors or styles of framing to the character of a room. This becomes more in line with interior decorating instead of just finding the right size. An example might be a person looking to frame a picture on a dark colored wall. Most walls are in the lighter shades for lighting purposes but there are people with dark walls to accent an artistic idea. Here a custom picture framer becomes very helpful since most production frames are made for light walls. I am finding that interior decoraters generally pick their art to match the styles of furniture and rooms and are not looking for art for art's sake. Interior decorators want the complete rooms to be their art. Most of my customers are somewhere in between and look for real art and framing that sometimes matches the rooms.
  Most people are wanting to make their art or photos attractive when they display them in their homes. A few knowledgeable folks want more from their custom framing. They want lasting value which can only come from a custom framer who knows how to frame with conservation materials and techniques. This is where picture framing can get expensive. The art must be completely free from contact with any materials that produce acid which might harm the art. The glass should be UV filtering to reduce damage from light. The back dust cover should be a material like Dupont Tyvek that lets the content in the frame breathe out but doesn't let it breathe in to prevent contamination from the outside air. I could continue with facts about conservation framing but most people do not want an extended explanation about conservation framing. Kind of like taking your car to a mechanic and he starts to tell you about all the materials and the installs that will cost you all the money. You really don't want to know at the technicalities. You just want the best job done and are willing to pay a little more. But you are willing to pay a little more because you trust him to do a good job. Custom framers and trust go a long way.
  Of course most of the framing will be to pictures and photos. One of the great things about custom picture framers is they can frame almost anything. Shadow boxes can be a home to just about any kind of object. I have framed sports jerseys, hats, figurines, baby dresses and shoes. One of my big challenges came last year in the form of a baseball bat!
    There are lots of books out there on the subject of picture framing and you can get just about all of them through Amazon .com. And there is a lot of information on the internet. Here is a link that will tell you just about all you need to know about custom picture framing .... http://www.framing4yourself.com/pages/tips-and-techniques/
I will be updating this page in the near future since I just put it in today ( July 17, 2011)
|